Police seeing more property crimes this time of year

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Robberies and break-ins seem to increase this time of year. North Little Rock is seeing some of the same problems. Officers said Christmas time means more people are out working and shopping later, leaving their homes empty longer.

Monica Key picked up glass, after someone broke into her house Monday.

"I don't have many things of value," said Key. She thought this busy road and broad daylight would keep criminals out of her locked up home, but it didn't work. A burglar took off with a television, a laptop and Key's sense of security.

"I came home to meet my son as he got off the bus, and I saw orange pills and said who left these in the driveway, and my daughter said I guess whoever left the front door open," explained Key. Once Key walked in her front door she became discouraged.

"I was more heartbroken than scared, I came in everything was ransacked. Things are missing. Everything is trashed."

Fortunately Key and her four children weren't home, but their home wasn't left in the best shape. The intruders broke a window and kicked in their back door.

"The muddy part is the footprint, and they left that dent there when they kicked the door in. It caused the frame to split," said Key.

This case is all too familiar to the North Little Rock Police Department. Sgt. Brian Dedrick said property crimes more than doubled from October, leaving officers with 128 cases in November alone.

"There's a lot more people out shopping, a lot more people are gone from their homes, and that's when we see a lot more burglaries," said Sgt. Dedrick.

With houses being empty longer Dedrick said it becomes a crime of opportunity, and it isn't just happening after dark.

Despite the sad story, there is a somewhat good ending. Just to show you how good and helpful Arkansans can be, Key's repairman noticed her TV missing and he brought the family of five his TV so they could have something to watch.

Watch the video above to see what one home security system installer said what customers are requesting of his company this time of year.

The biggest increase in crimes Little Rock police have seen is in individual robberies. Through November 13 of this year, police saw a 35% increase in individual robberies in downtown Little Rock; 47% in the northwest portion of the city; and 2% increase in the southwest region of Little Rock. Business robberies are up 27% in northwest Little Rock.